Saturday, August 11, 2012

Spicy Saturday

Yesterday was sweet Friday and tonight is spicy Saturday. No hijinks, just a tribute to the pastrami sandwich. Those of us lucky enough to be familiar with pastrami know it as some of the best and most flavorful sandwich material one can ever eat. The classic New York pastrami is beef that has been smoked, dried and seasoned. I am a purist and like my pastrami on rye bread with mustard. I like cole slaw on the side and if I am throwing all caution to the wind, there are also french fries on the table. I rarely eat pastrami, but when I am entertaining visitors and I want to show them an archetypal New York restaurant, I head for the delicatessen for pastrami.

I took my first subway ride in several months last week and in one of those moments that makes New York City feel like a small town I saw my BlogHer buddy from Zimbabwe standing on the subway platform. We decided to have dinner together and I wanted to go somewhere unique to New York. We met Thursday at the local deli. These restaurants are becoming rarer and I am lucky that there one in my neighborhood. I am pleased to say that the choice was a happy one and the pastrami was very well received.

I don't have a picture of the sandwich, but I did think to take a picture of the must-have condiment and my favorite deli beverage, Dr. Brown's cream soda. My blog buddy Lynda prefers Dr. Brown's black cherry soda, but we both are pastrami fans.

This is one of my favorite comfort foods, and if calories weren't a factor I would eat it much more often. Much! If your go-to comfort food had the same calorie count as celery (wouldn't that be terrific!) what would you choose?

Oh, so Pastrami on Rye with brown mustard and cole slaw on the side but DEFINITELY fries with lots of ketchup and salt... and not those skinny or curly fires... real potato fries that take more than one bite to finish :)a/b

I would have turkey meatloaf and mashed potatoes much more often. And Shepherd's pie with turkey. Today is only a wee bit cooler but I am already thinking of fall comfort food. Acorn squash baked with the meatloaf. Tomato soup and grilled cheese and tomato sandwich. Macaroni and cheese, heaping helpings. Creamy fettucini with peas. This eating no calorie food in Buttercup land is wonderful. I am actually feeling a bit comforted. Thanks.K